Facts about The Ford Bronco
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Production of the first-generation Bronco ended in 1977 after 11 years, during which Ford built the model entirely in Louisville, Kentucky at a single manufacturing facility.
- 12
Removable full roof panels on third-generation Broncos from 1980 to 1996 could be detached and stored, allowing owners to convert their SUVs into open-air vehicles within minutes.
- 11
Over 400,000 first-generation Broncos were produced between 1966 and 1977, making it the best-selling model year cohort in the nameplate's history during its initial decade.
- 10
Celebrities including O.J. Simpson and actor Michael J. Fox drove first-generation Broncos during the 1970s, elevating the model's cultural status among affluent consumers.
- 09
1995 saw the final model year of the second-generation Bronco, which had remained largely unchanged since 1978 despite significant competition from newer SUV designs.
- 08
Equipped with removable doors and roof panels, early-generation Broncos from the 1970s could be configured as open-air vehicles, predating modern modular SUV designs by decades.
- 07
Ordered by the U.S. Army during the 1980s, military variants of the Bronco served in specialized roles including reconnaissance and command vehicle applications across multiple NATO operations.
- 06
A 1968 half-ton Bronco equipped with the optional 289-cubic-inch V8 engine could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in approximately 10.5 seconds.
- 05
Two first-generation Broncos were featured in the 1966 film Tarzan's Greatest Adventure, marking early product placement for Ford's new SUV in Hollywood productions.
- 04
During the 1977 energy crisis, Ford offered a 3.9-liter diesel engine option in the second-generation Bronco to improve fuel efficiency and appeal to cost-conscious buyers.
- 03
Ford sold over 5.6 million Broncos across all generations from 1966 through 2024, making it one of the best-selling SUV nameplates in automotive history.
- 02
The sixth-generation Bronco launched in 2021 featured an available intelligent terrain management system with seven selectable drive modes for various off-road conditions.
- 01
In 1966, Ford introduced the first-generation Bronco as a competitor to the Jeep CJ-5, featuring a 200-cubic-inch inline-six engine producing 120 horsepower.